Elderly US Citizen Files $50 Million Claim After Violent Takedown by ICE Agents During Car Wash Raid

Surveillance footage captures Rafie Shouhed being forcefully handled by immigration officers during an incident.

A senior American citizen who was violently thrown to the ground during an immigration raid at his Los Angeles car wash establishment announced Thursday he is filing a $50 million claim against the government for damages.

Security video evidence shows Rafie Shouhed being aggressively restrained by several armed agents wearing masks, who subsequently detained him for what he reports was nearly 12 hours without providing medical care.

"The manner in which they handled me, how they assaulted me. I pleaded with them, telling them, 'I have a heart condition,'" Shouhed explained during a press conference.

Shouhed recounted approaching the officers to inquire about their activities at his business.

"They provided no explanation. Their only response was: 'You do not F with ICE,'" said Shouhed, who emigrated to the United States from Iran during the 1980s.

ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

The operation targeting Shouhed's car wash this month was part of President Donald Trump's intensified campaign against undocumented immigrants as he seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to deport millions of individuals.

These enforcement actions have sparked controversy, especially in the diverse community of Los Angeles, partly because they appear to target individuals based solely on speaking Spanish or working in certain establishments like car washes.

Video evidence shows three masked agents pinning Shouhed to the ground, with one appearing to press a knee against his neck.

The 79-year-old stated he told the agents, "I cannot breathe, I cannot breathe."

Lawyers representing Shouhed indicated that officers ignored their client's pleas, including his disclosure about recent heart surgery.

"He was detained for nearly 12 hours without medical attention. Even after agents confirmed knowing he was a US citizen, they continued to keep him in custody," according to the claim.

Shouhed, who had voted for Trump, was eventually released without charges. He later received hospital treatment for broken ribs, serious elbow injuries, and traumatic brain injury, according to his attorneys.

The legal claim serves as a precursor to a formal lawsuit.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told AFP that the September 9 operation resulted in "the arrest of five illegal aliens from Guatemala and Mexico who violated our nation's immigration laws, including one who had been removed from the country twice in 2015."

"The owner of Valley Car Wash, a US citizen, obstructed the operation and was arrested for assaulting and impeding a federal officer."

Shouhed's attorney, Jim Desimone, stated that surveillance footage demonstrated his client had been cooperative.

"How many more individuals must suffer serious injuries or die before we see changes in how these ICE officers operate... employing brutal force first and asking questions afterward?"